Honeywell’s UOP wins third license for methanol-to-olefins technology to convert coal into high-value petrochemicals
08 November 2012
UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, has landed its third technology license for its methanol-to-olefins (MTO) technology, which converts methanol from coal into key plastics building blocks.
China’s Shandong Yangmei Hengtong Chemicals Co. Ltd. will use the advanced MTO process, which combines Honeywell’s UOP/Hydro MTO process and the Total Petrochemicals/UOP Olefin Cracking process to convert methanol from gasified coal into ethylene and propylene, building block materials used in the production of films, packaging, plastics and other petrochemicals.
China is the world’s largest producer of coal, accounting for nearly half of global production, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
Shandong will use UOP’s advanced MTO solution to produce more than 295,000 metric tons ethylene and propylene annually at its facility in Tancheng, Linyi City, China. In addition to technology licensing, Honeywell’s UOP will provide basic engineering, catalysts, adsorbents, specialty equipment, technical services and training for the project, which is expected to start up in 2014.
The MTO process, jointly developed by Honeywell’s UOP and INEOS (formerly Hydro), converts methanol derived from crude oil and non-crude oil sources such as coal or natural gas to ethylene and propylene. The process, based on proprietary UOP catalysts, is proven to provide high yields with minimal byproducts. MTO also offers flexibility in the quantity of propylene and ethylene produced, so producers can adjust plant designs to most effectively address market demands.
Shandong will also use the Olefin Cracking Process, which boosts the total yield of useable ethylene and propylene by further converting olefins produced during the MTO process.
Previously, Honeywell’s UOP announced two other MTO projects. China’s Wison (Nanjing) Clean Energy Company Ltd. also licensed Honeywell UOP’s advanced MTO solution. China’s Jiutai Energy (Zhungeer) Co. licensed Honeywell’s UOP/Hydro MTO process. The facilities are expected to produce 295,000 and 600,000 metric tons of ethylene and propylene per year, respectively.
Shandong Yangmei Hengtong Chemicals Co. Ltd. is a global chemical enterprise that produces urea, methanol, caustic soda, hydrogen peroxide and polyvinyl chloride. The company is based in Linyi, China and operates as a subsidiary of Shanxi Yangquan Coal Industry (Group) Co., Ltd.
Would this be a better interim solution for USA than more corn ethanol?
Posted by: HarveyD | 08 November 2012 at 10:55 AM
corn ethanol has other purposes besides oxygenating gasoline.. it keeps the price of corn up, does not destroy local farmers in poor countries and keeps US farmers productive without using price supports. Think of corn ethanol as a very efficient GTL process (some mills also use coal.
Does anyone know the overall efficiency of making gasoline from natural gas using this process?
Posted by: Herm | 08 November 2012 at 03:54 PM
Natural gas to DME to gasoline is about 60%. Of course this will be attacked by the usual suspects with personal insults about how I am not qualified to comment on here.
Posted by: SJC | 08 November 2012 at 07:49 PM
Herm is it a real good interim solution to force the price of corn and all derivatives up by 100% to 300% to run our gas guzzlers?
Would using the excess coal and NG be a better interim solution?
Of course, the final solution will use none of the above.
Posted by: HarveyD | 09 November 2012 at 06:29 AM
Harvey, just take one step at a time..
Posted by: Herm | 09 November 2012 at 10:40 PM